the Informer

UNOTES

John Schmaltz,Director of Public Safety on campus, was named Person of the Year 2011, by the Cromwell Knights of Columbus.

He became Director of Public Safety in 2008, after retiring from 20 years of service from the police department where he worked as a lieutenant.

Schmaltz has been an involved member of his community, and a lifelong resident of Cromwell. He has coached various youth programs, is engaged in the Parks and Recreation Commission, the Cromwell Park Improvement Committee, and both the Baseball and Football Booster Clubs.

“I became interested in coaching and I was always interested in the idea of management, both for a team and a field, because I worked at a golf club in high school, I already knew about turf management, so it was easier for me to get into coaching,” said Schmaltz.

But coaching isn’t the only reason Schmaltz is the 2011 Knights of Columbus Person of the Year.

He is a big part of the Cromwell community, and makes it a part of his duty to give back to his hometown.
The Knights of Columbus is an organization he joined because he learned about the opportunities it provides through his uncle, and by joining he became more involved in his community.

“I was active early on, but it got harder to stay as active in the Knights of Columbus after I had children, having four children myself, I got very busy, but I still managed to do work in the community,” said Schmaltz.

Schmaltz is humbled by being given such an award, though he feels he didn’t get involved in his community to gain any sort of recognition.

When he first was acknowledged of this honor, Schmaltz explained “it’s a good fifteen minutes of fame, and a nice thank you, by getting a plaque, but I didn’t do all my work for myself, to gain attention. I did it for my community.”

Schmaltz graduated from Uconn in 1983, and from there he joined the Cromwell Police Department after graduating. He was later hired by the Hartford Police Department and eventually was promoted to the position of lieutenant.

“I learned persistence, loyalty and dedication from when I was in the police department and have applied it to my life,” stated Schmaltz.

By applying himself outside of his work, and within his community, Schmaltz stated “I try to give back to my community because it should be a cooperative effort from residents, and when I can give back it also gives me satisfaction.”

When asked how people could get involved in volunteer programs, and engaged in their communities, Schmaltz pointed out one reason they don’t put more initiative into it: a lot of people don’t realize that the community doesn’t just give people work to do, they have to make an effort to get involved.

“Many people think they don’t have the time for being a part of their community. It’s not that they don’t have the time; it’s the fact that they don’t make the time to get involved. It comes down to time management. If you want to be involved, make yourself some free time where you can get involved,” explained Schmaltz.